Take a peek at our shop wall and you’ll see that we love signs. “Adults Keep Out is one of my favorites because everyone should become a kid again when they enter the clubhouse!” laughs Barbara. “I design the structures to hold kids and big kids but adults should keep out!”

Signs are often dreamed up by children, like the one above. Whether carved and stained or simply painted on, they evoke childhood memories of summer getaways or that one authentic ice cream shop in a seaside town.

Signs also add a new layer to imaginative play, immediately setting the stage for a running game of chase, cops and robbers or mutinous pirates. While the uninitiated may give up hope of escape, those in the know simply slide the sign to one side to reveal a tunnel slide leading to freedom!

Wood carving and staining can create a result that is as detailed and luminous as any painting. This beautiful tribute to Leo Israel stands on the Larchmont Temple Nursery School’s playground. Built with sustainable redwood and natural tung oil stains, this sign can stand up to the elements for many years to come.

Much of our staining is done by artist and master stainer Rudi. Some are hand carved by Barbara first, while others are painted directly onto a flat surface, such as the Leo constellation piece he is working on above.